Hanley Ramirez could be shut down; other notes

A day after
sparking the Marlins with a key eighth-inning hit, Hanley Ramirez was out of Wednesday’s
lineup against the Mets and replaced by rookie Ozzie Martinez at shortstop.

Ramirez previously missed four games with inflammation in his left elbow.
And on Wednesday afternoon, the All-Star shortstop was seen in the Marlins clubhouse
with ice wrapped around his left and right elbows.

“He’s not OK,” Rodriguez said. “He came out after the game [on Tuesday]
and said he was feeling worse. That’s not a good sign. Right now, he’s not in
the lineup and we’ll see how everything develops after that.”

Rodriguez couldn’t pinpoint a specific instance when Ramirez
re-aggravated the injury, but said he noticed the slugger clutching his elbow
in the dugout following his first at-bat.

As a result of the uncertainty, Rodriguez didn’t rule out the possibility
of shutting down Ramirez for the remainder of the season.

“We have to leave that door open,” Rodriguez said. “We have to do what’s
in the best interest of the organization.”

---After watching Gaby Sanchez belt his game-winning homer in Tuesday’s win,
the Marlins are starting to lobby for the first baseman to win the National
League Rookie of the Year award.

Sanchez has shined in his first full season in the majors, blasting 19
homers and 81 RBIs. He also leads all rookies in RBIs, doubles (36), extra-base
hits (58) and total bases (249).

“I think he should get it,” outfielder Logan Morrison said. “He’s been
doing it all year. He’s been a mainstay in this lineup. He’s been driving in
runs and getting on base – doing what he needs to do.”

But Sanchez continues to deflect the attention. The slugger maintains he
is solely intent on achieving team success.

“I’m not thinking about it until the last game of the season is over,”
Sanchez said. “That’s an individual award and this is a team game. Just because
you win the award doesn’t mean anything.”

---The Marlins were also without Emilio Bonifacio on Wednesday. The utility
man – and Ramirez’s usual backup at shortstop – missed his third consecutive
game with tightness in his left hamstring.

But the club has reason to be optimistic. Before Wednesday’s game,
Bonifacio said his hamstring responded better in the batting cage and believed
Friday could be a viable date for his return.

“I feel a lot better,” Bonifacio said. “I took a few swings in the cage
and didn’t feel any pain, so I’m hoping for [Friday], but we’ll see how it
responds and what the trainers say.”

In the meantime, Rodriguez tabbed Hector Luna, who hasn’t fielded at
shortstop since 2006, as Martinez’s emergency backup.